Strife of Misfortune(Wattys2016)

Eclipse

Arthur's Note: Hey guys! I know, I know, I took forever updating this. This past month has been nothing but writing final term papers and exams. But thank you for patiently waiting for an update ans supporting this story. If you really enjoyed this chapter then don't hesitate to show your love with a comment or vote. Thanks again and Enjoy!

"Again." Said the countess, lady Raisa.

Egypt bickered and groaned as the lady trained her. For nearly two hours, she submitted to the lady's stern teachings, walking when she told her to walk and stopping when she told her to stop. Her muscles ached and whined. Exhaustion sought to numb her nerves. Egypt couldn't continue. Every nerve in her feet were set on fire from the exercise and not once did Raisa offer a break. Just five minutes was all Egypt asked for. Just five.

With a sigh, Egypt continued the lesson despite her discomfort. Another glass bowl was placed on her head again and she forced herself to walk, dropping the bowl in the process. "Damn..." She uttered. That was the fiftieth bowl she dropped. It was too toilsome trying to balance a bowl on top of one's head. According to Raisa, the bowl was meant to enforce perfect posture. If she were to slouch or move her chin, the bowl would fall.

"This is stupid!" Egypt finally said. She couldn't and wouldn't continue this arduous exercise. She refused to.

A tiny maid then placed another bowl on her head. Egypt swore mentally. She had no say in the matter. No matter how long she stays in Asgard, she will never get used to this, this lack of freedom and oppression. Turning off her thoughts, Egypt looked at the maid and nearly gasped at the sight. Her hair was a storm of fire and earth, a rich and beautiful auburn, her eyes were as beautiful as the summer rains. It wasn't her looks that captivated Egypt, that struck her mind with terror. No. "Aslaug?" The girl's scowl deepened and Egypt wanted to back away. How could this be possible?! She saw Aslaug die with her own eyes! She watched as the unforgiving blade plunged into her tiny body and demolished the life from her eyes. So why? Why did this girl stand before her? Was she an apparition bent on vengeance? Her skin was fresh and animated, her cheeks were suffused with rosy hue. Those were trademarks of the living and not of the damned. She wasn't dead. This wasn't Aslaug.

That's when Egypt saw something grow in the girl's eyes. Malice. Enmity existed between them. She didn't force herself to question why. It was obvious to Egypt now that the shock was gone. This girl. She was Aslaug's sister. She had to be. The resemblance between them was uncanny. Egypt killed her sister.

"Again." Raisa said, pulling Egypt out of her thoughts. She looked at the woman and groaned her frustration. She then dropped the bowl to spite the lady. "Again." And another bowl was placed on her head. That bowl crashed onto the floor. Another was placed on her head and another was thrown to the floor. It became a pattern. Just as Egypt thought they ran out of bowls, the maids would come back with more. How many excess bowls did they have?!

"I'm done with this stupid routine!" Egypt knocked the bowl onto the floor.

"You will do as you are told." The lady said peevishly.

"I don't take orders from you." Egypt fought back.

"This is no way for a lady to behave!" Raisa said. "So disreputable and reckless."

"Honey."The girl batted her eyelashes. "Does it look like I give two flying fucks?! I have been taking your shit for two hours now and one 'no' makes me a reckless person? You're full of it."

Raisa's cheeks exploded with red anger. Her fists trembled and veins bulged from her clutching fingers. "Our lord will hear of this."

"Wait!" She called after her. " Do you really have to do that? This was just a little disagreement. Can't we just sit down and compromise on something?"